Abstract:
Ferulago angulata (Apiaceae) is a shrub
indigenous to western Iran, Turkey and Iraq. In traditional
medicine, F. angulata is recommended for treating digestive
pains, hemorrhoids, snake bite, ulcers and as sedative.
In the present study, the effects of inhaled F. angulata
essential oil (1 and 3 %, daily, for 21 days) on spatial
memory performance were assessed in scopolamine-treated
rats. Scopolamine-induced memory impairments were
observed, as measured by the Y-maze and radial arm-maze
tasks. Decreased activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione
peroxidase and catalase along with increase of
acetylcholinesterase activity and decrease of total content
of reduced glutathione were observed in the rat hippocampal
homogenates of scopolamine-treated animals as
compared with control. Production of protein carbonyl and
malondialdehyde significantly increased in the rat hippocampal
homogenates of scopolamine-treated animals as
compared with control, as a consequence of impaired
antioxidant enzymes activities. Additionally, in scopolamine-
treated rats exposure to F. angulata essential oil
significantly improved memory formation and decreased
oxidative stress, suggesting memory-enhancing and
antioxidant effects. Therefore, our results suggest that
multiple exposures to F. angulata essential oil ameliorate
scopolamine-induced spatial memory impairment by
attenuation of the oxidative stress in the rat hippocampus
Description:
Ethical standard This study was approved by the Committee on
the Ethics of Animal Experiments of the Alexandru Ioan Cuza
University of Iasi (Permit Number: 2192) and also, efforts were made
to minimize animal suffering and to reduce the number of animals
used.
